O-litho



(No Model.)

C. E. JOHNSTONE.

GAME- No. 429,531. 7 Patented June 3, 1890.

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UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

CHARLES EDWVARD J OHNSTONE, OF OXFORD, ENGLAND.

GAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 429,531, dated June 3, 1890.

Application filed November 20, 1889. Serial No. 3303M. (No model.) Patented in England December 1, 1886, No. 15,683.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES ED WARD J OHN- STONE, a subject of theQueen of Great Britain, residing at Keble College, Oxford, England, have invented a new Improvement in Game- .Rings, (for which I have obtained a patent in Great Britain, No. 15,683, bearing date December 1, 1886,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a novel, strong, durable, and sufficiently rigid ring for that type of game wherein two per sons stationed at goals or courts at a given distance apart and each using two cue-like sticks throw the ring back and forth and endeavor to catch the same in its flight.

To accomplish this object my invention consists of a ring composed of a convoluted strip of cane or like material inclosed within a casing of leather or otherflexible fabric, as more fully hereinafter described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a detail plan view of the convoluted strip, the flexible casing or envelope being omitted. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the ring, showing the casing or envelope. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the nets and courts to exhibit the manner of using the ring.

In order to enable others to make and use my invention, I will now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawings, wherein- The letter A indicates the convoluted strip, and B the casing or envelope. The strip is preferably fiat and composed of cane or similar fibrous substance and is closely and tightly convoluted, and the casing or envelope is of leather or similar flexible fabric closely surrounding, covering, and entirely concealing the strip.

The ring is particularly designed for a game of skill originated by me and comprising two goals or courts. Each player takes his stand in front of one of the two goals and has two sticks (one in each hand) with which to throw and catch the ring, as indicated by the annexed drawings, Fig. 3. In order to throw the ring, both sticks should be thrust into the ring, taking care to put both sticks in the same side, and not from opposite sides. The sticks should then be brought up so that the point of the right stick is near the handle of the left stick, and vice versa, the two sticks being as near as possible parallel and on the same level. The left stick should be in the ring up to its hilt, but only about six inches of the right stick should be in the ring, as shown in Fig. 3. The left stick should be held next to the body, the left hand being near the left hip. The right stick should be held strained away from the left stick, so as to hold the ring firm and flat. Then with the right hand the ring should be swung off, the left hand giving the direction.

There is another kind of throw called a huppimup, which may be done as follows:

Instead of putting in the sticks from above,

as before, and standing over the ring, the sticks should be put in from beneath, still keeping the right stick from the body and the left stick next to it, the ring being in this case held about the height of the head. It must also be aimed rather high, as when thrown in this manner it has a decided downward tendency. The ring is thus thrown to and fro between the two players, the object being to throw so that the other player is unable to catch. This can best be done by sending the ring as near to the ground as possible.

In doing this care must be taken not to let the ring actually touch the ground before it reaches the opponents crease.

It will be found after a little practice that the ring can be thrown with great precision by holding the right stick at right angles to the left instead of parallel to it; but this will not be found quite so easy as the other way, being, in fact, a natural developement of it.

Each goal is, say, eight feet in height and ten feet in width with or without stop-nets, and the two goals, say, seventy-eight feet apart, facing each other, with a line or crease in front of each goal and parallel with it at a distance of six feet from it. The creases will then be sixty-six feet apart, and the rings not less than seven inches nor more than eight inches in diameter, measured from the inside.

TOO

and both in serving and receiving must have at least one foot within the court formed by the crease and the goal-line.

The game consists of eleven points, each of which is scored by sending the ring past the opposing player through his goal, with the following limitation: If the ring strikes the ground before reaching the opponents crease, it cannot score, even if it passes through the goal. If, however, it touches the crease, it shall be capable of scoring a point like any other throw by passing through the goal, either rolling or ricocheting.

If the receiver fails to catch a ring which is coming straight for the goal, but prevents it from going through the goal by stoppingit (deliberately or inadvertently) with any part of his person or clot-hing, the server shall score a point just the same as if it had passed through the goal. This rule shall also hold good in the case of stopping it with the sticks or turning it aside so as to miss the goal without actually catching it. In fact, if the ring be straight for the goal and does not strike the ground before reaching the crease, the receiver can only prevent it scoring by actually catching it on one or both sticks.

It makes no diiference to the score whether the ring be caught on one stick or two; but it is an advantage to catch it with two for two reasons, (ca) because with two sticks it can more easily be prevented from running up the sticks onto the hands and arms, and, (1),) because when the ring is caught on two sticks the player is instantly ready and in position to make his return throw.

The game being eleven points, it the score shall reach ten all, it shall be at the option 01": the player who is at that moment the receiver to set threei. e., to declare the score love all, and regard the player who first scores three points as winner of the game.

The present system of scoring at lawn tennis may be adopted as an alternative method, if preferred.

That I claim, and desire to secure by LetiJGi'S Patent, is-- A ring for a game of skill of the character described, consisting of a tightly-convoluted strip of cane or similar fibrous substance i11 closed within a tightly-fitting casing or envelope of leather or other flexible fabric, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name, at Laleham, Staines, this 12th day of October, 1889, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES EDWARD JOIINS'IONE.

\Vitnesses:

M. G. DANGLISH,

20 Old Buildings, Lincolns Inn, Barrister- (Li-LCM O. A. BUOKLAND, Lalelzcm'n, SICHHQS, Lieutenant Royal Ncwy. 

